1999 CHRYSLER CONCORDE EMBODIES ELEGANT DESIGN, SPACIOUSNESS AND AGILITY

With its stunning looks, interior comfort, driving agility and overall efficiency, the Chrysler Concorde has become an instant hit in its first model year on the market, winning widespread critical acclaim.

"Few cars have such a striking presence on the road, and few, if any, cars in Concorde's price class can match its overall driving experience," said Martin R. Levine, General Manager - Chrysler/Plymouth/Jeep® Division. "We knew that Concorde would break strongly into the market, and we are seeing a significant increase in sales and share in this important market segment."

Completely redesigned for 1998, the Chrysler Concorde LX and LXi set the new standard among premium sedans for 1999 and beyond while complementing the wide array of other vehicles in the Chrysler brand portfolio. Concorde has already been awarded Automobile magazine's Design of the Year Award for 1998.

Several enhancements are offered for 1999 to keep the Chrysler Concorde's momentum going. Changes for 1999 include premium carpeting, a new headliner and new interior fabrics and leathers. A revised leather seating surface will be standard on the LXi, while a new fabric will be offered later in the model year on the LX. A new stitched boot design for the shift lever (late availability) also provides a richer look to the overall interior.

Functionally, the recently redesigned Concorde continues to offer a high blend of quiet, refined and powerful performance. New, more robust sway bar links will be phased into production mid-model year, as will tubular rear trailing arms. Both will provide an added measure of road isolation without affecting driving performance. On the exterior, 16-inch Medallion alloy wheels are added as standard equipment on the Concorde LXi. For enhanced security, Chrysler's exclusive Sentry KeyTM system is offered. Light Cypress Green is added to the color palette for 1999.

Beneath the 1999 Concorde's sleek exterior is a choice of two aluminum engines that are up to 25 percent more powerful and 10 percent more fuel efficient than the previous generation engine used through 1997. Both engines feature direct coil-on-plug ignition systems and platinum- tipped spark plugs to provide 100,000-mile intervals between tune-ups.

The Concorde LX is powered by an all-new, all-aluminum 2.7-liter, 24-valve V-6 engine rated at 200 horsepower, which has the best horsepower-per-liter rating in its class. The Concorde LXi is powered by an all-aluminum 3.2-liter, 24-valve V-6 that generates 225 horsepower and is more powerful, lighter and fuel efficient than the larger, previous generation 3.5-liter V-6 engine.

Style is a high priority for buyers in the premium end of the car market, and that's where the 1999 Chrysler Concorde excels. Its distinctive appearance in a landscape of look-alike sedans borrows from both the great classic automotive designs of the past and the most contemporary trends.

"A major goal in designing the Chrysler Concorde was to give it the look of a sporty coupe while maintaining the practicality of a sedan," said Mark Hall, one of the Concorde's exterior designers. "After all, the success of any good coupe design is that it looks more like a rolling sculpture and less like a car."

Aerodynamically, full-stamped doors and optimizing the shapes of the fascia, mirrors and rocker panel areas gives a coefficient of drag (CD) of only .288, rivaling some of the best sports cars in the world. Concorde also wears the unmistakable look of a Chrysler with the winged Chrysler brand medallion, which appeared in a similar form on Walter P. Chrysler's very first car in 1924.

Inside, the Chrysler Concorde has more interior and trunk room than most competing sedans and continues to be offered with a 50-50 front seat for those who require a car that can seat six adults comfortably. Features include a "pass-through" between the rear seat and trunk that may be used for access or carrying long objects, such as skis. Larger storage bins, including a wide center compartment in the 50-50 front seat with cassette and CD storage slots, coin holder and fold out cup holders also are included. Rear storage and cup holders are included in the rear center armrest.